THE ever progressive Mayo Roscommon Breeders’ Group fourth annual Breeders’ Select Foal Sale at Glenamaddy Equestrian Centre last Saturday returned another resounding set of returns for breeders.

Some 50 foals were sold at the venue and on their IHC Auction platform and, while the clearance rate of 62% was slighty down on 2020 (68%), the average price continues to rise to €5,498 (€5,030 in 2020). The top price also jumped significantly from 12 months ago, demonstrating the hard work this group puts in to selecting quality foals.

Patrick Hester, one of the organisers of the sale and founders of the MRBG, said: “The average foal price has increased from €2,250 in Edition 1 in 2018, to this year’s average of €5,498. This reflects our strategy for the clear and transparent foal selection and international marketing of the foals.

“It means internally we are achieving the goals of the group, and we are also increasing the average foal price for equine farming; we hope to bring forward these statistics to the Department of Agriculture and Horse Sport Ireland to put forward a viable argument for equine farming in Ireland.”

Sale-topper

The top price of €13,500 went to Lot 84, a colt foal by Diamant de Semilly out of the Indoctro-sired Bright Eyes R&D. Owned and bred by nearby local engineer and farmer/breeder Niall Barrett, Denis O’Connell had the final bid.

Bright Eyes R&D has seven other progeny recorded on the Irish Horse Register and her dam line boasts a number of proven performers including Robin Hood (1.60m).

Westmeath’s Aidan Flanagan has had plenty of success selling at this sale and that continued on Saturday when his colt foal Goldsmith Luidam (Lot 79) was sold for €11,800 to Brian O’Malley. By Luidam, he is out of the traditionally bred Tireragh Imperial Cruise (Cruising x Clover Hill), who jumped to Grade C.

Aidan Flanagan's Goldsmith Luidam (Luidam x Cruising) was sold for €11,800 to Brian O’Malley

Flanagan thanked the group for another professionally run auction, adding: “The foal this year in my eyes was one of the best foals I have ever bred and he was coming home with me if he didn’t make that kind of money as there was a lot of interest in him before the sale.

“I bought the mare from a girl down in Waterford four years ago. We had to put our hands very deep in our pockets to acquire the mare and she is starting to pay dividends for us now. I covered her with Boherdeal Clover this year in the hope of getting a traditional filly to breed from as she is getting on now. If I had a filly out of that cross, it would be a wonderful base line to go forward.”

Also breaking the €11,000 barrier was Lot 68, Annyalla Tik Tok, a colt foal by the 1.60m performer All Star 5, who was purchased by Olympic show jumper Greg Broderick’s GBBS International. This well-related sort is out of the Kannan mare Janan Panama whose pedigree is littered with 1.50m/1.60m performers and she is a half-sister to Ben Maher’s Rio 2016 horse Tic Tac.

Annyalla Tik Tok (Lot 68) was purchased by Greg Broderick's GBBS International for €11,100

Best-priced filly

The best-priced filly on the day was Michael O’Neill’s bay by Comilfo Pluz Z, out of the Mylord Carthago-sired Carravaggio L.E, who was knocked down to Jonathan Cleary at €9,600.

British show jumper and one half of HK Horses alongside Ireland’s Richard Howley, Morgan Kent gave €7,000 for another eye -atching filly, Clooncastle Eliza (Lot 82), who was consigned to the sale by John Murphy. By the 2016 Olympic champion Big Star, the Nations Cup performer Sterrehof’s Calimero (Marc Houtzager) features in her dam line.

Murphy was also the vendor of Lot 74, Clooncastle Rory, a colt by Pegase van’t Ruytershof out of Galwaybay Felicity (Flex A Bill), who was bought by Olga Broderick for €7,800.

Among others to make above the €7,000 mark was Shea Connolly’s Glenamehdi (Lot 73), a colt by Carrera VDL who was knocked down to Michael Hayden at €8,500. Hayden also owns his four-year-old Balout du Rouet half-sister.

England-based Ash Sport Horses secured Lot 80, Heathermore My Verdi, for €8,100. Bred by Noel Kilroy, who is one of the founding members of the MRBG, the colt is by Verdi TN out of the Canabis Z mare Icocarla.

Lot 80, Heathermore My Verdi, sold for €8,100

Eight more foals were sold for prices between €6,000 and €7,000, while a further 11 made between €5,000 and €6,000.

IHC marketplace

The foals that weren’t sold on the day will now be shown on the Irish Horse Centre’s marketplace, a new feature for 2021. Hester explained: “New this year is the IHC marketplace which will allow year-round selling of foals or young horses for Irish breeders and producers.

“The unsold foals from this year’s sale get transferred to marketplace so it will connect the international equestrian community to the leading Irish breeders and producers all year around. It is a unique service; you can bid on a foal and breeder can decline and accept the offer.”